Podcast Summary: The Triple Option – Episode on 2026 CFP Format Debate, Scott Cochran, & NCAA Tournament Preview

Episode Information:

• Title: The Triple Option
• Hosts: Urban Meyer, Mark Ingram II, Rob Stone
• Guest: Scott Cochran, Head Coach at West Alabama
• Description: Exploring the evolving landscape of football, including playoff expansions, leadership insights, and personal stories within the sport.
• Release Date: March 19, 2025

Introduction to the Episode

In this episode of The Triple Option, hosts Urban Meyer, Mark Ingram II, and Rob Stone delve into significant changes on the horizon for college football, particularly the proposed expansion of the College Football Playoff (CFP) system in 2026. The discussion is enriched by a heartfelt conversation with Scott Cochran, the newly appointed head coach at West Alabama, who shares his inspiring journey overcoming addiction and his vision for his new program.

1. The Future of College Football Playoffs (00:00 – 25:35)

Expansion to 14 Teams: The hosts begin by discussing the anticipated expansion of the CFP from 12 to 14 teams in 2026. The proposed structure includes:

• SEC and Big Ten: Four automatic bids each
• Big 12 and ACC: Two automatic bids each
• Non-Power Four Conferences: One automatic bid each
• At-Large Bid: One highest-ranked team not meeting automatic bid criteria (e.g., Notre Dame)

Elimination of the Selection Committee: Urban Meyer advocates for an automated system to determine playoff participants, reducing human bias and error:

"Mark, there is no longer a selection committee. It is an automatic-oriented system which I'm all in favor of." ([02:02])

Mark Ingram supports this sentiment, drawing parallels to the NFL's straightforward playoff qualifications:

"I like the format for basically eliminating the selection committee and having a system in place that decides who plays in the playoff." ([06:06])

Remaining Human Elements: Rob Stone raises concerns about the inherent human decisions still present, such as seeding and scheduling:

"There would be a human conversation of, of who the seeds are... Is it going to take away the debate of who those 14 teams are? Yes." ([06:12])

Benefits of Expanded Playoffs:

• Increased Competition: Larger playoff brackets keep more teams engaged throughout the season.
• Higher Viewership: More high-stakes games attract greater fan interest.
• Balanced Scheduling: Encourages teams to play tougher non-conference opponents, enhancing preparedness.

Challenges and Concerns:

• Conference Disparities: SEC and Big Ten could dominate due to their additional bids, sidelining other strong conferences like ACC and Big 12.
• Scheduling Conflicts: Managing multiple championship weekend games without overlapping could be logistically challenging.

Urban Meyer emphasizes the positive impact on team motivation and fan engagement:

"Your best players are playing, the fan bases are engaged. Everybody's locked in." ([20:21])

2. Conversation with Scott Cochran – Building West Alabama (27:21 – 55:50)

Introduction to Scott Cochran: Scott Cochran, a seasoned coach with eight national championships between LSU, Alabama, and Georgia, joins the show to discuss his new role as head coach at West Alabama. Cochran shares his personal battle with opioid addiction and his path to recovery, highlighting his dedication to fostering a positive and academically focused environment for his athletes.

Journey to West Alabama: Cochran describes how a serendipitous phone call led him to his current position:

"I was starting to get that itch back... And then I had a phone call from a board member. He needed me to be the head coach at West Alabama." ([33:18])

Building the Coaching Staff: He emphasizes the importance of hiring former players who understand his coaching philosophy:

"I've brought in probably about seven to eight players that I've coached. It was an easy decision because they wanted to help." ([35:39])

Overcoming Addiction: Cochran opens up about his decade-long struggle with addiction, culminating in an overdose in April 2020. His commitment to recovery is evident, as he discusses his nonprofit, the American Addiction Recovery Association, aimed at eliminating stigma and increasing access to life-saving resources like Narcan:

"We are trying to make September purple across the country so that we can eliminate this stigma." ([53:03])

Vision for West Alabama: Cochran's focus extends beyond athletics to academic excellence and long-term personal development:

"Success to me is not like this season, next season, it's 15 years from now... when a player can walk back on campus with their family and be a great husband, a great father." ([46:13])

Key Initiatives:

• Academic Support: Emphasizing a premium on academics with robust programs.
• Legacy Building: Encouraging players to create lasting legacies at West Alabama.
• Mental Health Advocacy: Promoting awareness and access to mental health resources through his nonprofit.

Impact and Support: Mark Ingram expresses deep admiration for Cochran's resilience and leadership:

"This is amazing... I'm so proud of you for being 14 months sober and for the impact that you're having." ([43:57])

3. NCAA Tournament Preview – March Madness Final Four Picks (56:04 – End)

As the episode progresses, the hosts shift focus to the NCAA basketball tournament, offering their predictions for the Final Four.

Final Four Predictions:

• Mark Ingram's Picks:
  • Michigan State Spartans: "Sparty all day... We going Sparty out the South." ([57:59])
  • Alabama Crimson Tide: "We going Bama out the east." ([58:00])
  • Florida Gators: "Florida's playing at a high level. I'm going Florida out of the west." ([59:37])
  • Houston Cougars: "I'm going Houston." ([60:02])

Urban Meyer's Picks:

• Michigan State Spartans
• Alabama Crimson Tide
• Florida Gators: "Florida's gonna win it all." ([60:00])
• Tennessee Volunteers: "I have three SEC schools in there." ([60:19])

Rob Stone's Picks:

• Auburn (Moving On from the South):
  • "Mark, they hate it. They hate it." ([57:48])
• Duke Blue Devils:
  • "Clemson who has beaten Duke... Maryland can cause some problems." ([59:30])
• BYU Bears:
  • "I like six seed BYU to make some noise." ([58:05])
• Clemson Tigers and Maryland Terrapins:
  • "They have the potential to upset higher-seeded teams." ([59:06])

Discussion Highlights:

• SEC Dominance: Both Urban Meyer and Mark Ingram predict multiple SEC teams in the Final Four, reflecting the conference's strength.
• Conference Representation: Rob Stone anticipates representation from various conferences, including ACC and Big Ten, although he maintains a bias against certain teams like Auburn.
• Fan Engagement: The hosts express excitement over the potential matchups and the increased viewership from high-stakes games.

Notable Quotes:

"I have three SEC schools in there... It's like these teams can return to prominence." ([60:19])

"Final four is great, but I think the Gators are going to pick up their third national championship in school history." ([60:27])

Conclusion

This episode of The Triple Option offers an insightful exploration of the future of college football playoffs, enriched by Scott Cochran's inspiring personal journey and leadership at West Alabama. Additionally, the hosts provide engaging NCAA tournament predictions, reflecting their deep knowledge and passion for sports. The conversation underscores the importance of leadership, resilience, and strategic planning both on and off the field.

Notable Quotes:

1. Urban Meyer on Playoff Expansion:

   "There is no longer a selection committee. It is an automatic-oriented system which I'm all in favor of." ([02:02])

2. Mark Ingram on Eliminating Human Error:

   "There shouldn't be these human error in involving the playoff." ([05:33])

3. Rob Stone on Remaining Human Elements:

   "There would be a human conversation of, of who the seeds are." ([06:12])

4. Scott Cochran on Recovery and Advocacy:

   "We are trying to make September purple across the country so that we can eliminate this stigma." ([53:03])

5. Mark Ingram on Scott Cochran’s Impact:

   "I'm so proud of you for being 14 months sober and for the impact that you're having." ([43:57])

6. Urban Meyer on Championship Motivation:

   "Your best players are playing, the fan bases are engaged. Everybody's locked in." ([20:21])

Key Takeaways:

• The proposed expansion of the CFP aims to increase competition and viewership by including more teams, particularly from dominant conferences like the SEC and Big Ten.
• Eliminating the selection committee could reduce bias but may not entirely remove human influence in playoff seeding.
• Scott Cochran's personal story emphasizes the importance of mental health support and building a strong, academically focused athletic program.
• The NCAA tournament predictions reflect the hosts' deep engagement and strategic thinking regarding team performances.

For more detailed discussions and updates, listeners are encouraged to watch the episode on YouTube or listen via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or their preferred podcast platform. Follow The Triple Option on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @3XOptionShow for bonus content.